"There certainly exists some diversity of opinion on that subject. He is rather too grim a guardian, I fancy, for one so young as Huldah Reed."
"Is Mr. Hammond teaching Huldah?"
"Oh! no. Herein consists the wonder. Murray himself hears her lessons, so Estelle told my sister. A propos! rumor announces the approaching marriage of the cousins. My sister informed me that it would take place early in the spring."
"Do you allude to Mr. Murray and Miss Harding?"
"I do. They will go to Europe immediately after their marriage."
Gordon looked searchingly at his companion, but saw only a faint, incredulous smile cross her calm face.
"My sister is Estelle's confidante, so you see I speak advisedly. I know that her trousseau has been ordered from Paris."
Edna's fingers closed spasmodically over each other, but she laughed as she answered: "How then dare you betray her confidence? Mr. Leigh, how long will you remain in New York?"
"I shall leave to-morrow, unless I have reason to hope that a longer visit will give you pleasure. I came here solely to see you."
He attempted to unclasp her fingers, but she shook off his hand and said quickly: "I know what you are about to say, and I would rather not hear what would only distress us both. If you wish me to respect you, Mr. Leigh, you must never again allude to a subject which I showed you last night was exceedingly painful to me. While I value you as a friend, and am rejoiced to see you again, I should regret to learn that you had prolonged your stay even one hour on my account."
"You are ungrateful, Edna! And I begin to realize that you are utterly heartless."
"If I am, at least I have never trifled with or deceived you, Mr. Leigh."
"You have no heart, or you certainly could not so coldly reject an affection which any other woman would proudly accept. A few years hence, when your insane ambition is fully satiated, and your beauty fades, and your writings pall upon public taste, and your smooth- tongued flatterers forsake your shrine to bow before that of some new and more popular idol, then Edna, you will rue your folly."
She rose and answered quietly: "The future may contain only disappointments for me, but however lonely, however sad my lot may prove, I think I shall never fall so low as to regret not having married a man whom I find it impossible to love. The sooner this interview ends the longer our friendship will last. My time is not now my own, and as my duties claim me in the school-room, I must bid you good-bye."